Combination refuse cutter and burner



NOV- 16, 1943- F. E, RoDRlGu-Es ET AL 2,334,441

COMBINATION REFUSE CUTTER AND BURNER Filed Dec. 11, 1959 INVENmRs EERodl-zlguea Danie! Gianni ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 16, 1943 i asentar y i Applicationneclabr 11, l1ere,sariaiN9. tosses@ y y, f p lolaim.,,(C1L56i1lff'f l A This invention relates to agricultural machinery, the principal object beingto provide a machine for cutting refuse orwaste growth in the field, and then burning therefuse while ystill on the machine.

Although not limited to such use, our machinev has been primarily designed to cut and burn the growth developing from asparagus plants after the cutting season is over and the stalks are left to grow unretardedly.

Before the eld can be put into shape for the following cutting season, the'accumulated growth must be disposed of This is now done by cutting the growth (which is relatively tall, feathery and fast burning) by means of a mower, then subsequently forming the cut growth into piles with the use of a hay rake and a buncher, and then burning the piles while on the ground. This is not only a slow and expensive procedure, but when the asparagus is grown on peat land, as is largely the case, the land itself is apt 'to catch nre, sometimes with costly results. Also, due to the quick burning and light nature of the growth,

it cannot be safely burned in a wind, and the operators are themselves apt to get burned.

Our improved machine eliminates these hazards and objectionable features incident to the present procedure as above outlined, and enables y the growth to be quickly disposed of without possible harm to the workers or to the ground.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects We accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claim.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional plane, particularly showing the mounting and driving of the mower. Y

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation of the firebox.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawing, themachine comprises a main frame I of suitable configuration, supported intermediate its ends by ground bearing traction wheels, one of which is shown at 2, and provided at its forward end with a clevis 3 adapted for supporting draft connection with a tractor.

A cross shaft 4 jcurnaled on the frame serves "as the pivotal supportfor arforwardly and down- Awardly projecting auxiliary frame 5 on the forward endof'whicha mower 6 o f conventional form is mounted and which includes a reciprocating sickle or knife unit 7. The unit is driven by a pitman 8 having crank connectionvwith a pitman wheel 9. 'I'his is mounted on a shaft I0 extending along and supported from one of the side members of frame 5. At its rear end, the shaft is connected to shaft 4 by a bevel gear drive II, the shaft 4 being itself driven from the axle I2 of wheels 2 by a chain drive I3; there being a clutch I4 between drive I3 and shaft 4. This clutch is controlled by suitable connections I5 with a-lever I6 mounted on the frame I adjacent its forward end so that the clutch can be actuated by the tractor operator.

A reel I'I is supported from frame 5 above the mower and feeds the growth'as cut onto an elevator chute I8 fixed as a unitjwith the frame 5, but having an upward slope to' its rear end re1- ative to frame 5.` Ai; its rear end,` the elevator discharges into an opening I grformed in the front side of a firebox 2D supported by the main frame and extending the full width of the elevator. y Y

At its lower end, the flrebox is surrounded by a pan 2I, the bottom of which is spaced from the bottom-of the firebox and the sides of which arespaced from the sides of the flrebox and project above the lower edge thereof as clearly shown inl5'ig.v 3. In this mannen'draft air can enter the rebox all about the same, without danger of ash or burning matter spilling onto the ground.

Downwardly opening normally closed swing doors 22 are mounted on and form a large part of the bottom of the pan, these doors being connected for simultaneous opening and closing by suitable linkage 23. The doors are opened at will, to dump an accumulation of ash in the pan, by suitable connection'means 24 with a control lever 25 mounted on frame I adjacent the i lever I6 so as to be also accessible for operation from the tractor.

A booster feed wheel 2t is mounted in connection with elevator I8 adjacent its upper rear end to assure feeding of the material on the elevator into the rebox opening, the feed Wheel and reel being driven at a suitable speed from shaft 4 beyond the clutch by a chain drive 21.

The mower is provided at each end with a ground engaging shoe 28 and the mower frame normally swings free to follow ground undula- ,tions. In order to lift the frame 5 and the mower and connected parts clear of the ground for transportation, we provide another lever 29 on the frame I near levers I6 and 25, which is connected to the mower supporting frame 5 by suitable linkage 3U as clearly shown.

In operation, at the outset a small iire is iirst started in the rebox, and the machine is then drawn along the row of growth to be cut and burned. Due to 'ith :iam'angement df parts recited, it will be seen lithat the growth will 'be out,V

V' relatively long wheel supported frame adapted at Y ground. Whenever an accumulation of ash :in:

the rebox renders it necessary, the doors 22Vare dropped to dump the ash by--manipulation Ao` -departingffrom the-spirit of .the invention which essentially consists `of @a Agrowth cutting .means, .a

growth felevating .means receiving from .the outelevating means delivers, all mounted as a unit on a traveling frame. y

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that we have produced such a device as substantially fuliills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim asunewan'd useful and .desire'tp secure by LettersPatent is:

A refuse gatherer and burner including with a.

its Lfront -end or connection to a draft device 'and movable along the ground and refuse cut- `:ting:and'felevating means on the frame; a refuse bltrning rebox mounted on the frame rearwardg Lly-of theelevating means and to which the latter v feeds, said rebox having a movable ash discharge door, and means to operate the door including a .manual lever `on the Eadiacent its forwardend .and ahead .of .the ,gathering n. RQDRYIGUEs. DANIEL GIANNI..`

ting means, and a growth burner to which the y 

